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top chop

24K views 25 replies 21 participants last post by  lodadeo  
#1 ·
hi folks, i am looking for tips on chopping 2 1/2 in. on my 57 2 door sedan
top and cutting the windshields to fit thanks .
 
#2 ·
Might be easier to leave the windsheild stock and drop the whole window opening into the cowl.That way you won't spend a fortune everytime you crack a windsheild.5-6-7's are not easy cars to chop because of the front and back glass.Hope you have a good glass shop in your area,you might break a couple before you make one good one.Good luck,I'm sure someone on this site has chopped one.:tu
 
#5 ·
Hitt,

Ohhhhhhhhhh..............Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee find another car to do that to!!! Maybe a F*** type..................not a '57 or any other Trifive!!!

Like LS55 said, it is not easy to do on a Trifive. And the glass would be very expensive. I would check into that before you start up the cut off wheel!

Pete
 
#11 ·
Drop Top

Hi Guys,
I have never done this but I bought the hardtop for my 57 Delray Club Coupe to drop it.My thought was if I lenghten the top 3 or so inches it should fit on the sedan side rails and I will just use the hard top cross braces with the HT windsheild and back glass. That would give it a 2" drop but still have the nice proportions of the sedan.
 
#14 ·
Hi Guys,
I have never done this but I bought the hardtop for my 57 Delray Club Coupe to drop it.
Do you mean you bought a roof from a hardtop to graft onto a sedan?

My thought was if I lenghten the top 3 or so inches it should fit on the sedan side rails and I will just use the hard top cross braces with the HT windsheild and back glass. That would give it a 2" drop but still have the nice proportions of the sedan.
What "side rails" are you talking about, and what top cross braces?

I think the HT top is about 1 1/2" shorter in height than a sedan, and about 3" shorter in length as you said. You can tell this by the gap in front of the trunk, which is longer in a HT.

I'm not sure how you would deal with the window area if you used a top from a HT, and left the post on a sedan. Maybe you could just eliminate the b-pillar. But before I'd go to that much trouble, I'd just buy a hardtop. :D :D
 
#13 ·
Tom,
Welcome to the site. I like your idea. I have seen some really nice Tri-5's chopped:tu. Go for it and don't look back. A good glass guy can cut the glass with out any problem. I have a rounded windshield on another of my cars that has been chopped and it looks great. I think the tops are to high the way they sit stock the cars look out of proportion.

Life is not a test run, Have Fun:)
Ken
 
#15 ·
OK, so can someone tell me the idea behind top-chopping? Is it just the cool factor? On other forums, guys are complaining about lack of headroom, and then some guys want to lower the roof! The bronze one in this thread is sweet, but apparently it's not for everybody? There's a 55 floptop (actually 'no top') on another forum that has two threads dedicated to bashing it. :rolleyes: I know a lot of customs get their start as a wrecked car, and I can also really appreciate the work and thought that goes int them. I really love the design that Ed Cole and Harley Earl laid out, and I don't think that I could improve it! :tu :D
 
#16 ·
chopping top

hello-new to your group. i have chopped 55 that we removed 3-3/4" out of the top. i am using a full size front windshield in the front and a back glass with 3" cut from the top edge. we used two tops, 4 doors, and two hoods to build my car. the front windshield was lowered down into the cowl eliminating the cowl vent area in front of the windshield. my hood was extended back to the windshield. a lot of work and a lot of time. my hood raises up in the back for the windshield wipers to operate. my top is approx 4" longer than a stock roof. i think it all was worthwhile. makes my 55 different than most others. has won a lot of awards at a lot of major shows. contact me if i can help. good luck. mike







'
 
#17 ·
hello-new to your group. i have chopped 55 that we removed 3-3/4" out of the top. i am using a full size front windshield in the front and a back glass with 3" cut from the top edge. we used two tops, 4 doors, and two hoods to build my car. the front windshield was lowered down into the cowl eliminating the cowl vent area in front of the windshield. my hood was extended back to the windshield. a lot of work and a lot of time. my hood raises up in the back for the windshield wipers to operate. my top is approx 4" longer than a stock roof. i think it all was worthwhile. makes my 55 different than most others. has won a lot of awards at a lot of major shows. contact me if i can help. good luck. mike



'
That sounds like a great metal fabrication job..i'd love to see a few pictures on how it turned out.mike
 

Attachments

#19 ·
CHOPPED TOP INFO.

The man that owns the bronze one is a member of trifive..... His name is HAL_396 Look him up and send him a PM.... He cut down his own windshield using some tool he bought at Harbor Freight.... Good luck with your project.... Later, Dave
 
#26 ·
Wonder how much the body was sectioned? 1-2 inches? I sure would like to see where and how many cut lines there was to do the sectioning? Awsome work. This may not be for everyone but I "CAN" apprectiate the thoughts, planning, time and money used to complete this. I agree,I would like to see more info. on this car.:congrats: